Harlan Briggs (August 17, 1879 â€" January 26, 1952) was an American
actor and Vaudeville performer who was active from the 1930s until his
death in 1952. During the course of his career he appeared on
Broadway, in over 100 films, as well as appearing on television once
towards the end of his career.Briggs was born on August 17, 1879 in
Blissfield, Michigan. Although he was a graduate of the University of
Michigan Law School, he chose to go into acting rather than pursue a
career in law.His acting career began in Vaudeville at around the
beginning of the 20th century. He would make his Broadway debut in
1926, in the drama Up the Line. He worked steadily on Broadway through
1935. On August 6, 1929 he began a successful run in the featured role
of G. A. Appleby in It's a Wise Child at the Belasco Theatre. In 1934
he had another featured role in the successful play, Dodsworth, as
Tubby Pearson. The show opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 24,
1934 and ran for 147 performances, starring Walter Huston as Samuel
Dodsworth. After a six-week hiatus, the show reopened at the Shubert
on August 20 and ran for an additional 168 performances. When Samuel
Goldwyn brought the rights to the play, Briggs was one of two of the
original Broadway cast to reprise their roles in the film, the other
being Huston in the title role. He would focus on his film career for
the remainder of the 1930s, before returning to Broadway in the 1940s,
combining both stage and screen performances during that decade. The
most successful of his Broadway appearances in the 1940s was as
Constable Small in Ramshackle Inn, which featured ZaSu Pitts in her
Broadway debut.The Story of Mary Surratt, in which Briggs appeared in
1947, was Briggs' 400th play.
actor and Vaudeville performer who was active from the 1930s until his
death in 1952. During the course of his career he appeared on
Broadway, in over 100 films, as well as appearing on television once
towards the end of his career.Briggs was born on August 17, 1879 in
Blissfield, Michigan. Although he was a graduate of the University of
Michigan Law School, he chose to go into acting rather than pursue a
career in law.His acting career began in Vaudeville at around the
beginning of the 20th century. He would make his Broadway debut in
1926, in the drama Up the Line. He worked steadily on Broadway through
1935. On August 6, 1929 he began a successful run in the featured role
of G. A. Appleby in It's a Wise Child at the Belasco Theatre. In 1934
he had another featured role in the successful play, Dodsworth, as
Tubby Pearson. The show opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 24,
1934 and ran for 147 performances, starring Walter Huston as Samuel
Dodsworth. After a six-week hiatus, the show reopened at the Shubert
on August 20 and ran for an additional 168 performances. When Samuel
Goldwyn brought the rights to the play, Briggs was one of two of the
original Broadway cast to reprise their roles in the film, the other
being Huston in the title role. He would focus on his film career for
the remainder of the 1930s, before returning to Broadway in the 1940s,
combining both stage and screen performances during that decade. The
most successful of his Broadway appearances in the 1940s was as
Constable Small in Ramshackle Inn, which featured ZaSu Pitts in her
Broadway debut.The Story of Mary Surratt, in which Briggs appeared in
1947, was Briggs' 400th play.
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